Ray’z Arcade Chronology Collector’s Edition (PS4)

Taito's Ray series didn't just define the lock-on shooter genre. It obliterated the competition and then kept going. The Ray'z Arcade Chronology Collector's Edition for PlayStation 4 is a Strictly Limited Games exclusive limited to 550 copies worldwide, bringing RayForce, RayStorm, and RayCrisis together in a collector's box that's as loaded as the games' bullet patterns.

This PS4 disc contains five versions of three legendary arcade shooters, all enhanced for modern hardware with HD upgrades on the 3D titles. And then there's R-Gear, the unreleased prototype sequel to RayForce that never saw the light of day, included here as an official release for the first time ever. For shmup historians, that alone is worth the entry.

The Collector's Edition box features a magnetic latch and houses an absurd amount of extras. A live concert Blu-ray and CD of the Ray'z Music Live STRAHL performance featuring ZUNTATA and BETTA FLASH. A strategy guide written by top players. A material collection with roughly 130 pages of development art and behind-the-scenes commentary. Two A2 posters. Six authentic arcade marquee stickers based on Japanese and Western cabinet versions. A reproduction of the European "Gunlock" arcade flyer from the 90s. And a pixel frame depicting the boss battle against Odin, shipped separately due to its size.

The craftsmanship here is staggering. ZUNTATA's soundtracks are some of the finest in gaming, and having the live concert recordings alongside the strategy guide and deep-dive material book makes this a genuine archive of one of the most important shmup trilogies ever produced. 550 copies for the PS4 version. That's it.